Identification of Saccharin and Cyclamate Content in Iced Tea Beverages Circulated in Kramat Jati Village

Abstract

Tea is very popular in Indonesia due to its distinctive and refreshing taste. However, the high production and consumption of ready-to-drink tea beverages raise concerns about the use of artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and cyclamate, which can have adverse health effects if consumed excessively. Based on this issue, the present study aims to determine the content of saccharin and cyclamate in iced tea beverage products circulating in Kramat Jati Subdistrict. This research was conducted descriptively using a qualitative method at the Chemistry Laboratory of the Medical Laboratory Technology Study Program, MH Thamrin University, Jakarta, from December 2024 to January 2025. A total of 18 iced tea beverage samples were tested using a color reaction method for saccharin identification and a precipitation method for cyclamate identification. The results showed that out of 18 samples, 9 samples (50%) were positive for saccharin and 12 samples (66.7%) were positive for cyclamate, while 3 samples (16.7%) were negative for both types of artificial sweeteners. It can be concluded that most iced tea beverages circulating in Kramat Jati Subdistrict still contain the artificial sweeteners saccharin and cyclamate. These findings indicate the need to increase public and business awareness regarding the health risks associated with excessive consumption of artificial sweeteners.